Mariner Software Contour for Windows - Manual (Page 24)

Chapter 4: The Four Questions
T
he first, great mistake of every failed screenplay can often be
traced to a weak central idea. A seemingly good idea runs out of
steam around page 55 or so -- the halfway point. The key is to
recognize a strong idea from an inherently weak one.
Four basic questions must be asked when developing your story:
1. Who is your main character?
2. What is he trying to accomplish?
3. Who is trying to stop him?
4. What happens if he fails?
If thereʼs any vagueness answering the questions, do not continue with the idea until you can clearly answer
the questions.
Here are some guidelines:
Your character should be a sympathetic person. Give us someone we can root for.
Your character should have a compelling goal. (Compelling to the audience too)
Your main character needs an opponent who should be as committed to your main characterʼs failure as
your main character is committed to success.
The stakes are life and death. Either literally, or figuratively, the heroʼs life is over if they fail.
In This Chapter:
Answering the Four
Questions
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